Vehicle body mounting



May 4, 194s.- RHEREFQRD 2,440,746

VEHICLE BODY MOUNTILLG Filed March 10, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 'IlI . u Q g2 INVENTOR.

Roe/ wan HEREFORD.

ATTORN M y 1943 r R. HEREFORD 2,440,746

VEHICLE BODY MOUNTING Filed March 10, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 171 v5 Y ('3 23 k I INVENTOR.

ROCKWELL HEREFORD.

ATTORN Y.

y 4, 1948. R. HEREFORD VEHICLE BODY MOUNTING Filed March 10, 1 945 6 Sheets-Sheet. 4

R; EMM mm v MT m M H y 1948. R. HEREFORD 2,440,746

VEHICLE BODY MOUNTING Filed March 10, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Roe/mks HEREFOAD.

May 4, 1948. REF 2,440,746 v I VEHICLE BODY MOUNTING Filed March 10, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Rae/(WELL HEREFORD.

F aKW7K ATTORNEY.

E I v INVENTOR.

spaced channel members 26 fabricated as a unit with a plurality of diagonal braces 27.

I show rails 28 on which the car may be operated, the truck having a pair of wheel axles 26 and wheels 36, the axles having bearing portions 3| engaging journal bearings 32 to which a pair of side frames 33 are suitably secured through the conventional springs if desired.

A load supporting bearing plate member 34 extends between side frames 33 and may be formed integrally therewith, and plate 34 is provided with a central pivot bore 35 and carries a pair of arcuately shaped bearing plate members 36 which,

may be suitably secured thereto as by welding or otherwise. Plate members 36 each support a, plurality ofrollers 3'! which are arcuately disposed at the under side of a load supporting member 38 which has a downwardly extending pivot portion 38a having a bearing connection in pivot bore 35 of plate 34. Member 38 has an upwardly extending rectangular shaped block portion 39 and supports a plate member 46 through the medium of a plurality of bearing plate members 4|, member 46 having a rectangular opening or aperture 42 to receive block portion 39 of member 38,

a plurality of springs 43 being positioned in aperture 42 between block portion 39 and the ends of aperture 42. By this construction it will be apparent that member 38 and plate 46 are adapted for relative movement laterally but not rota tionally such that sharp sidewise movements or vibrations'of the wheels 30 will not be transmitted to the plate 46 except through the springs 43, which will absorb such shocks.

Plate 46 supports a plurality of springs 44 which in turn support a transverse guide frame 45 which is provided with a plurality of downwardly presented guide recesses 46 in which a plurality of stud members 41 extend, the stud members being suitably secured to and extend vertically .from plate 46. Recesses 46 and the studs 41 may be of circular section and the recesses may be provided with lining material to provide bearing contact with the studs in such manner that lateral movement between plate and frame is substantially prevented. Recesses 46 and stud members 41 may, however, be formed with a rectangular cross section by which longitudinal movement between these parts may occur should the draw bar receive excessive shocks which would tend to shear stud members 41.

Frame 45 is provided with a longitudinal opening 48 and further provided with pairs of side extension members 49, the ends of which are secured together as by braces 50, and a plurality of rollers 5| are secured between pairs of side members 49 adjacent braces 50 as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. Rollers 5| are spaced as shown and provide guides for arcuate portions 52 of a pair of guide frames 53 suitably secured to the car body floor structural members 22 or 23. Center sill 25 extends through opening 48 being slidable therein, and the load thereof is carried by guide frame 45. a

A bearing block 55 is mounted on frame 45 and secured thereto as by bolts 56, and has longitudinally extending portions 51 which rest on center sill 25, however having sliding engagement therewith. Block 55 has a recess in the lower portion thereof in which is positioned the upper central portion of frame 45.

Bearing block 55 has a bearing recess 58 provided with an arcuate bearing surface 59 at the base of the recess, the arc center of surface 59 being along anaxis 60 extending longitudinally of the car, which axis is the center of rotation of car body 20. A plurality of bearing rollers 6| are suitably positioned in or on surface 59 and provide rotational support for a load bearing member 62 which is suitably secured to transverse floor beam members 23. Member 62 has side wall portions positioned adjacent the side walls of recess 58 and an arcuate lower bearing surface which rides on rollers 61. A pair of thrust plate blocks 63 are secured as by bolts 64 on center sill 25, and a plurality of springs 65 are positioned between blocks 63 and bearing block 55, suitable spring retaining elements 66 being secured to blocks 55 and 63. A pair of stop flanges 61 are secured and extend downwardly from center sill 25 and are adapted to engage plate 40 in the" event of excessive draw bar impact which would otherwise tend to shear stud members 41.

In Fig. 3 I shoW the end portion of sill25 which comprises a structure 68 integrally or rigidly secured thereto and providing a pair of arcuately,

shaped guide bearing plate members 69 for a coupler structure 10 which is pivoted at H 'to structure 68. Structure 68 is shown as having arcuate end portions 68a. which serves to receive draw bar end thrust from the adjacent car, which end thrust may include crash forces to' be transmitted through the center sill.

The operation of the invention as thus far described should be obvious. The car body 20 is supported on, and the load thereof transmitted through bearing member 62, rollers 6|, bearing block 55 to guide frame 45. The load is transmitted thence through springs 44, plate 40, bearing plate members 4!, load supporting member 38, rollers 31 and bearing plate members 36to bearing plate member '34 which is a part of the structure of side frames 33; The car body 26 is free to rotate about center of rotation 60 on rollers 6|, the rotation being guided and limited by guide frames 53 and the arcuate members 52 thereof in cooperation with rollers 5|.

Vertical springing action of the car body is provided by springs 44, guide frame 45 being re- 5 stricted against lateral movement by recesses 46 and studs 41. Lateral vibration or whipping'of the wheels 36 is absorbed and prevented from being transmitted to the car body by the spring ing action provided by springs 43 where such vibration or whipping action transmitted from the wheels through bearing plate 34 and load supporting member 38 is absorbed. Rotationfof the truck structure including the wheels and bearing plate 34 is provided by pivot portion 38a of member 38 and rollers 31 riding on roller bearing plate members 36. It will thus be clearly seen that vertical and lateral vibration or movement between the car body and the wheel structure including member 36 is absorbed separately by springs 43 and 44, and each set of springs may be designed especially for the particular character of the vibration it is required to absorb.

It will further be observed that the draw-bar pull or push is transmitted from center -sill.25 through thrust plate blocks 63, springs 65 and bearing block 55 to load bearing member62 secured to the car frame structure, and therefore unusual or severe draw bar impact shocks or forces will be absorbed as far as possible through springs 65, and will be usually reduced in the effect thereof on the occupants or other load carried by the car body 26. This draw bar force is also transmitted to frame 45 and through studs 41, plate 40 and member 33 to aeeoga ro i gravity G is' below -the center of l 'otation fifl anel-the *car body" ereforesimna to-a'pendulum' pivoted at 60 n =fre 'to rotatel around a -1ongaoeina1- 1 axis-defihed by projection ofpoint t5 ill-as axis lini 'Ihe mementuin of the car 'botl-y-"fi 9, when op erated ah appreciable'speed; will cause -pendulum 1 1 action of the car body when round-ing-a curve' causing centerof g'ravity' G to be moved *t'o one sid e :or the oth'er from the vertical result ingi'. apivotingof-the car' bodyabout-thecenter of rotatmm fifi 'vvhich is the eenter of I curvature of bearing surface-59 -Whi'ch *pivoting movement" adjusts the angle of inclination to thespeed of thez 'car' and the -curvature I of the track, and v uponia straighteningof the travel of the vehicle ontthe traok orfl a decrease in the'speedgthere- 5111178313 17 of th'e gravitationaland centrifugal" fewest-applied to the center of wgravity 1G 'will restore ithe ea-r body :to upright position or to a positiomin :which the resultant of these forces is perpendicular to the 'fioor 0f th'e car. This angular movement about the center 0f rotation 1 tfl' nray be snubbed or" opposed i by suitably disposed springstnot shown) applied between floor beams-121x01: 23 01".v other tear body 'locationtand extension members as.

III-iiFfg-S. 9 110112 L1 shown structures' -providirig auxiliaryfsupporti-foi -the car body :onlthe center 1 silkenlnatheseifigures the' centersill is shown as havingsad'ditional verti'cal -heieht than is shown in siFigsfl-il .tol 6.-1i I show "a bearing plate member 4 i 1.2 'extending along andsuitably secured on the upper portion of -"sill -members 26 T and having laterally" extending guide b-caring portions 13 which have' an arcuate lower bearing surface;

A plurality of bearings 14', such as 1 ball bearings; "4;, are suitably retained in the upper face ofbear ing-unemb'erilz Iwhich 1s arcuately formed about the center of rotation fiili A bearing-block l5 is supportelon bearings -74 and-has a similarly centered lower bearing -iace r and issuitably to r5 seoured to :transverse beam members 23 of i the 1 camb'ody ZilnnI provide s, pair of' angle Tmembers 1 I6 -slidably! supported on, and' suitably keyed: to, bearing plate me'mb'er TZ, an'cl a pair of springs I 1.1 are ipositioned between each angle-' member 76*"55 and a buffer angle member "i3 :secure'dcto and supported'onasill-members 25. Av'pair'of bracket membersl le are suitablyz-secured to beam. mem bers 23: and are provided with inwardly directed guidezioearing shoes :80 which engage the lower 0 1= bearing' surface (sf-bearingportion i3 of bearing plate member :1 2;

Bmthisstructure it willrbe apparent that rota-r tion of the car body is provided on bearings M and-that-draw barrimpact 'is transmitted through-" i angles 18, sprin l7 andanglesttltto bearing 7 blockrlb-which is secured to the car framaand such impact is thus absorbedby springsa'llp It Will i urtherbe clear that bearingw plate member 12-einc1uding thel'guide bearing portions l3,r:to' 701 gether with brackets'lQ and shoes 813, will serve to :"limitany-tendency of-the-car body to move": upwardly with respect towsill '25. The structure shown him Figs; 9 and 10 i is :seen to be positioned: at thewcenten of-the car while: the structure shown' in' Figs; 11; and l2-- 's' adapted for SUDD DEt' OHIy -WitHOHb 17huse' of' rackets1r'l9I,'- l positioned betw'een 'the -cent'el of th'e' car tan the trucks. By this structure-the centerfsill mayi x be considered-a part of car body 20 for purposes of contributing strength and rigidityrtolthe car-:2 body and thereby reducing thennecessary Weight-F of the :car body. l The center "sill Lan'd r bracket l members "l9*, wvhile =limiting any tendency ofiih car body 'to vibrate' vertically at the *center also f1 serve to limit longitudinal fiekureanditorsi'ona 2:1 as welras' some lateral strains on 'the zcartlbody In 'FigsL- I31 to -l5 I show a :modifiedrform, truchvstructure: lnlthe'se :figures' the car body wheels; axlesand journal structures are substan' tially similar to' thosashowninFigs: 1 to The modified 1 features include side: irameumem'bers 33a between which extends a transverse bearing-l1; plate member 'or portion'ai'twhiclr hasra icentral'f: thrust bearingportion 82 and a pivot bore: 83? in which-is rotatabl y positioned: the end portion 8 0f a-pivot inembe'rflfii I show i-rame members fie which extend'angu; larly from bearing plate 8! and secured' thereto-f? Joy bolts 'filto provide "an additional -.bearing:r-8B

for pivot 8551 Pi'vot E5 has a thrust plate lbearingm" portion Ss which rests on:be'arin'g portionl82z A plurality or springevefi: are mounted om bearing plate fiil and support an intermediate frame-i: structure 3h Frame structure 9 ihas a horizontal plate port-x tion QZVi-resting cni'thezs upper ends" of springsp-BM and iormed with a pivot. bore ilii' having. splinecl engagement M with pivot 65: permitting vertical-o 5 but fnonerotativeimovement therewith. i Plate" 92 has -a plurality oflbracket portionswilfi extending downwardly andinwardly and providing a slider-u bearing on:piv0t Plate: 92" also: hasbracec portiona ti iext'ending downwardly to bearln'g 96 at right angles-to brackets 95 and an iupwardly extending nbrace' portion 9M. A transverse guid andloa'deupporting plate member-t98* is carried on plate iifi on suitable rollers 99. i Plate member- 98 ha'sl a rectangular slot We through which extends Iaboss portion-"Mimi plate: 92. Springs i are: positioneduin: slotfl ill] on :both" sides not boss lfiii and engagethe extreme recessedt endsa of thezslotz Plate member ea has spaced 'end portions-l 03 providing mountingmeans for bearings; such'fas '5 a piurality' 'of rollersdildgi which: rollers=provide r gulde fmeansii'or and engageiiguide "members .I of guide irames: xlfibi-suitably" secured ito iloorr beams-22' or 23- as:by bolts'- I67? Memberlwiisi seen as extending-upwardly and ihaivin'g" an" arcuate bearing'recess itillwhichlmay beizproviderl with :bearing rollers i 19: fOI lEL loadwMsuppQrt/ingi bearingtblock 'rl it) secured'to beammembe'rsrflfiar the center of rotation of the can body and ibea ing-= block .5 iii being along a longitudinal laxis'ie" indicated Eta".

Member *98 has longitudinalviopenirrgml I in: through which extends the? centersill; l ltlwhich is supported-by member-'98 andis sli'dablewithin w the slot or opening 1'! l l-thereo'f. :1 A. :plural'rty'*ofi:: suitably designed" buffer iblocks l l-3 are asecuredwt to sidezportionsof center sillll l'2;-'and a ipluiality of springs li l'arepositionedibetweenblocks-H3 and :member l Al pair of bufferi-anglenme'mbers H5 are secured to andbe'low 'centersill'rtlezrand adapted to engage plate 89 in thelevent: of'draw bar impact which Will move anglesh'l It: the inteui. veningdistance:therebetweeni Memberszbl'fi'eachu have a flanged portioml lfia ilextending'a toward the ltruckcstructure adaptedrto rengageiadjaeent a brace portion 91a in the event of track irregularities or other forces which would tend to rotate the truck structure about a horizontal axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the car.

The operation of the structure, as shown in Figs. 13 to 15, is substantially similar to that of Figs. 1 to 6 as will be apparent. Vertical springing of the load is carried by springs 90 and lateral vibration or whipping of the wheel structure is absorbed by springs I02 between boss IOI and plate member 98. Draw bar impact isitransmitted from center sill I I2 to the car body and truck through springs II 4 and the vertically extending portion of member 98. No springing is I82 secured to a convenient point on extension members I03. Motors I80 and I8I may be actuated alternately from a pendulum I84 mounted on a pivot I85 at any suitable place in the car, and adapted for swinging movement in a plane transverse to the length of the car. Motors I80 and I8I are provided with conduits I88 connected to a suitable source of fluid or hydraulic pressure I81 through control valves I88 and I89.

A battery I90 supplies power for actuating valves I88 and I89 through circuit wires which include wires I88a and I89a connected to switch contacts I88b and I89b, which contacts are adapted to beclosed as the pendulum I84 swings either to the right or left of the vertical. Thus, upon the car moving in a direction looking into the plane of the figures of the drawing and rounding a curve, say to the left, the pendulum will swing to the right, causing a closing of contacts I88b and operating control valve I88 and actuating motor I80, which will tilt the car body 20 in a counter-clockwise direction until the pendulum has returned to the mid position, in which position it will be parallel to the resultant of the gravitational and centrifugal forces and perpendicular to the car floor. The operation of motor I8I to provide a return movement, either partially or full amount, of the car body, will follow in an obvious manner.

In Fig. 17 I show a modified form of body tilting actuator and control means. In this figure, motors I80 and I 8| are provided as before and similarly controlled, with the exception of control wires I880 and I890 which are shown connected into the end portions of an arcuately shaped mercury tube I92. The battery I90 has a common terminal I90a in each end of the tube I92. Tube I92 is mounted in a car in a manner similar to pendulum I84, and upon bein subjected to a laterally. directed centrifugal force, the mercury in the tube will flow to an end of the tube, thereby closing the contacts through wires I880 or I890, actuating control valve I88 'or I89 thus operating motor I80 or I8I in the same manner as in Fig. 16.

In Fig. 18 I show a further modified form of body tilting actuator and control means. In this figure, I. show a pendulum I93 pivoted at I94 and comprising an induction coil connected to tween the car body and truck frame,

an alternating current power source as shown. The circuit includes coils I95a and I95b connected respectively to solenoids I9Ba and I96b having plunger rods I91a and I9'Ib secured be- Current from coil I93 induces an actuating current 'for the solenoids when the pendulum swings into coupling relation to coils l95a or I 95b.

The above described body tilting actuator and control means are to be considered typical examples of a few of a larger group of remote control and actuating means for tilting or balancing the car body in its rotational movement about the longitudinal center of rotation, and other modified forms of actuator and control means may be employed if desired. Such other forms might incorporate electronic tube and photo cell devices, also electrical condensers, resistors and other means of amplifying small amounts of energy or movements into the larger amounts necessary for efiecting the car body rotational movements or dampening the same if of vibratory nature.

It is to be understood that the terms draw bar pull, force, propelling force, draft, and the like are used in a general sense and should be considered as applicable to forces of either push or pull type, and that such forces may be transmitted either from the center sill to the car body and truck structures or may be transmitted in a reverse direction by the energy of motion of the vehicle from the car body and/or the truck structure to the center sillsuch as may occur when a train of a number of cars is decelerating by braking action or upon the occurrence of a crash.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vehicle having a body and a sub-structure rotationally supporting the body about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, substantially rigid means extending substantially the length of the vehicle and mounted on the sub-structure to receive and transmit a propelling force to the body and sub-structure, said means adapted to transmit a portion of the weight load of said body to said sub-structure.

2. In a vehicle having a body and a sub-structure rotationally supporting the body about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, substantially rigid means extending substantially the length of the vehicle and mounted on the sub-structure to receive and transmit a propelling force to the body and sub-structure, said means having rotative engagement with said body and adapted to transmit a portion of the weight load of said body:

to said sub-structure.

3. In a traction type vehicle, in combination,

a body, a truck structure supporting the body and having a wheel frame pivotable about a vertical axis, said body bein mounted on said truck structure for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and being gravitationally balanced on said structure, and substantially rigid draft means for said vehicle extending the length thereof slidably mounted on and resiliently engaging said truck structure.

4. In a traction type vehicle, in combination,

a body, a truck structure supporting the body and having a wheel frame pivotable about a vertical axis, said body being mounted on said truck structure for rotation about a longitudinal axis of.the vehicle and being gravitationally balanced on said structure, and substantially rigid draft means for said vehicle extending the length thereof slidably mounted on and resiliently engaging said truck structure independently of said wheel frame.

5. In a traction type vehicle, in combination, a body, a pair of truck structures supporting the body and each having a Wheel frame pivotable about a vertical axis, said body being mounted on said truck structures for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and being gravitationally balanced on said structures and substantially rigid draft means for said vehicle extending the length thereof slidably mounted on and resiliently engaging said truck structures.

6. In a vehicle, in combination, a body, a pair of truck structures supporting the body and each having a wheel frame pivotable about a vertical axis, said body being mounted on said truck structures for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and being gravitationally balanced on said structures, and draft means for said vehicle slidably mounted on and resiliently engaging said truck structures, said body having rotational engagement with and being partially sup ported on said draft means.

7. In a vehicle in combination, a body, a pair of truck structures supporting the body and each having a Wheel frame pivotable about a vertical axis, said body being mounted on said truck structures for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and being gravitationally balanced on said structures and draft means for said vehicle slidably mounted on and resiliently engaging said truck structures, said body having rotational engagement with and being partially supported on said draft means, said draft means extending substantially the length of the vehicle and adapted to provide strength and rigidity to the car body.

8. In a vehicle, in combination, a body, a truck structure supporting the body and having a wheel frame pivotable about a vertical axis, said body being mounted on said truck structure for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, means for effecting rotation of said body in response to centrifugal force to maintain said body so that the resultant of gravitational and centrifugal forces is perpendicular to the floorof said body, and draft means for said vehicle slidably mounted on and resiliently engaging said truck structure independently of said wheel frame, said first means including motor means connected to said body and structure and inertia controlled means for actuating said motor means.

9. In a traction type vehicle, in combination, a body, a truck structure supporting the body and having a wheel frame pivotable about a vertical axis, said body being mounted on said truck structure for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, means for effecting rotation of said body in response to centrifugal force to maintain said body so that the resultant of gravitational and centrifugal forces is perpendicular to the floor of said'body, and draft means for said vehicle slidably mounted on and resiliently engaging said truck structure independently of said wheel frame, said first means including a plurality of laterally spaced motor means connected to said body and structure and inertia controlled means for actuating said motor means.

10. A truck as described for a vehicle having a body, comprising a wheel frame including a bearing member, a load supporting member mounted on said bearing member for rotation about a vertical axis, a plate member mounted on said load supporting member for lateral movement thereon spring means between said supporting and plate members, and a guide frame resiliently supported on said plate member and adapted to support said vehicle body for rotation about a longitudinal axis of said body, said spring means being actuatable horizontally and laterally for absorbing and cushioning horizontal and lat eral forces.

11. A truck as described for a vehicle having a body, comprising a wheel frame including a bearing member, a load supporting member mounted on said bearing member for rotation about a vertical axis, a plate member mounted on said load supporting member for lateral movement thereon spring means between said supporting and plate members, and a guide frame resiliently supported on said plate member and adapted to support said vehicle body for rotation about a longitudinal axis of said body, said plate member and said guide frame having interconnected means to prevent lateral movement therebetween.

12. A truck as described for a vehicle having a body, comprising a wheel frame including a bearing member, a load supporting member mounted on said bearing member for rotation about a vertical axis, a plate member mounted on said load supporting member for lateral movement thereon, and a guide frame resiliently supported on said plate member and adapted to support said vehicle body for rotation about a longitudinal axis of said body, said plate member and said guide frame having interconnected means to permit vertical movement and prevent lateral movement therebetween.

13. A truck as described for a vehicle having a body, comprising a wheel frame including a bearing member, a load supporting member mountedon said bearing member for rotation about a vertical axis, a plate member mounted on said load supporting member for lateral movement there on, and a guide frame resiliently supported on said plate member and adapted to support said Vehicle body for rotation about a longitudinal axis of said body, said plate member and said guide frame having interconnected means to permit vertical movement and prevent lateral movement therebetween, said means including a plurality of stud members and stud member recesses.

ROCKWELL HEREFORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,116,103 Nichols Nov. 3, 1914 1,152,863 Thomson Sept. 7, 1915 1,256,940 Smith Feb. 19, 1918 1,262,108 Silver Apr, 9, 1918 1,489,688 Astrom Apr. 8, 1924 1,732,675 Duryea Oct 22, 1929 2,088,487 Schoepf et a1 July 27, 1937 2,174,324 Janeway Sept. 26, 1939 2,198,668 Janeway Apr. 30, 1940 2,208,650 Van der Sluyz July 23, 1940 

